Woodall Rogers Bridge

“WOODALL RODGERS BRIDGE” PROJECT: DALLAS (TEXAS): PAUT ON WELDS (2007)

Woodall Rodgers Bridge Project: Bridge designed by the Spanish Architect Calatrava, located north of Dallas (Texas) and made in Italy by the company Cimolai Spa of Pordenone.
In 2009, Tecnocontrol proposed to the manufacturer to replace the planned radiographic controls on the main welds with advanced Phased Array ultrasonic tests.

After some audits with the Texas Department of Transportation Commission (Client), during which the potentialities and the advantages gained in the project with this technique were illustrated, Tecnocontrol has been commissioned to prepare a dedicated PAUT Test Procedure. This required a thorough study in particular to establish the Acceptance Criteria to be applied given the lack of national or international reference standards.

PA controls on initial production were performed in parallel with alternative volumetric controls (RT and UT) on the same weld sections to scrupulously evaluate the qualitative status of the inspected joints by comparing the results obtained by the different methods and objectively assessing whether the Acceptance Criterion according the Procedure was aligned with the Criteria contained in the contractual documents.

At the end of the project, the Resident Inspectors on behalf of the Texas Department greatly appreciated the work done by Tecnocontrol and the benefits that the new proposed technique has brought to the project.